Taking the Lead: Women and Civil Society in Afghanistan

June 23, 2011

The Afghan women’s movement has a rich history of improving opportunities for women’s education, security, economic prosperity, and health. However, in 2009, Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed into law the Shia Family Law, which curtailed women’s custody rights and freedom of movement, among other things.

What does this action, combined with Karzai’s plan for talks with the Taliban, mean for the preservation of rights for which the women’s movement has long fought? How has the Afghan women’s movement changed over the last ten years, and is a continued international presence needed in Afghanistan to guarantee advances and prevent further setbacks?

Listen in to the continuation of our Chicago and the World Forum series “Ascent from Chaos? Afghanistan’s Uncertain Future,” as Suraya Pakzad addresses what Afghan civil society and the women’s movement may look like as Afghans rebuild their nation.